TTC further increasing service, strengthening connections, improving reliability

The TTC is increasing service and revising schedules on its bus, subway, and streetcar networks, starting Sept. 1. When fully implemented this fall, the bus network, which has seen sustained and increasing ridership levels, will have more service hours than were in place pre-pandemic. Across the system, service hours will increase to 97 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with ridership at approximately 80-85 per cent compared to 2019.

The improvements come in time for the new school year and the return of more people to in-office work. They also better align with the growing demand of more than 2.5 million daily weekday boardings.

Overall, the changes will increase frequency, improve reliability, and strengthen connections throughout the city.

“People across Toronto need and want more frequent and reliable transit service, and I am thrilled to say we are delivering just that,” said Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. “The TTC is the lifeblood of Toronto, and I’m proud of the tremendous progress we’ve made towards returning service to pre-pandemic levels. We are making record investments to enhance service and safety on the TTC, encouraging millions of riders into the system every day.”

“As a Board, we are focused on rebuilding the foundations of Toronto’s transit system and making the system more attractive to all customers,” said TTC Chair Jamaal Myers. “These service increases and improvements are all about getting the basics right for our customers and making stronger connections for communities where they are needed most. As customer travel patterns stabilize, we can confidently make longer-term changes to the system to address new travel demands that have emerged and evolved from the pandemic.”

“I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in rebuilding from the challenges posed by the pandemic, and I am confident that the ongoing service improvements and our strategic long-term plans will further elevate public transit in Toronto,” said TTC CEO Rick Leary. “This marks a pivotal moment for our customers, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated teams who have worked tirelessly since the pandemic to deliver enhanced service where and when it is most required.”

Starting Sun., Sept. 1, customers on 16 bus routes will benefit from more room on board or shorter wait times, while 23 routes will see improved service reliability. Additionally, six new and revised routes will improve customer wayfinding, and better connect key employment, education, and retail areas in northeast Scarborough, east Scarborough, and south Etobicoke, providing more transfer-free trips for faster journeys. These routes include a new 154 Curran Hall, 185 Sheppard Central, and 904 Sheppard-Kennedy Express, as well as revisions to the 54 Lawrence East, 80 Queensway, and 85 Sheppard-East.

As the new school year kicks off on Sept. 3, the TTC will restore more than 100 extra scheduled bus trips and make route adjustments to facilitate students boarding at multiple locations surrounding schools. The TTC is also launching a year-long pilot program for free transit for Grade 7-12 student field trips in partnership with the Toronto public, Catholic, and French school boards.

Subway service on Line 1 Yonge-University will be increased to address crowding and shorten waits at the busiest times. Trains will arrive every two-to-three minutes during weekday morning and afternoon rush hours, and every four-to-five minutes in the early afternoons and evenings between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The new schedules will shorten wait times by up to approximately one minute. Extra trains will add more demand-responsive service on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, with further scheduled increases planned to start in October.

The TTC is also expanding overnight streetcar service with more frequent trips on the 312 St Clair and 306 Carlton routes, as well as introducing a new 303 Kingston Rd overnight service, providing more transit options for customers between 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. daily.

Stronger connections in Scarborough and Etobicoke

Among the improvements beginning Sep. 1, the TTC will strengthen connections in Scarborough and improve frequent service on Lawrence Ave. E. 54B Lawrence East buses will extend service to Kingston Rd. and Morningside Ave., bringing 10-minute network service to this intersection. A new 154 Curran Hall route will provide an additional direct connection between Kennedy Station and the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus, improve service on Lawrence Ave. E. and in the Curran Hall neighborhood, and offer a new connection to Ellesmere Rd.

Bus service on the Sheppard Ave. E. corridor will be modified to improve wayfinding, simplify transit service, and better serve ridership patterns. Adjustments to the 85 Sheppard East will improve service between Don Mills Station and Rouge Hill GO Station, with additional connections for customers transferring between the TTC and Lakeshore East GO trains. A new 185 Sheppard Central route between Sheppard-Yonge and Don Mills stations will simplify wayfinding for customers with distinct routes east and west of Don Mills Station. And, a 904 Sheppard-Kennedy Express route will be introduced, replacing the 985A Sheppard East Express, to clarify routing for customers travelling between Kennedy and Don Mills stations as part of the Line 3 Scarborough Bus Replacement Plan.

In Etobicoke, service on 80 Queensway will better connect Mimico GO Station to the Queensway corridor and the Humber Bay Shores community. A new 80B branch will replace 176 Mimico GO, operating weekdays during the morning and afternoon peaks. Service will be improved on The Queensway west of Royal York Rd, better serving key employment areas and new developments. 80 Queensway service will be adjusted across the day, every day, to improve reliability.

A complete list of service changes beginning September can be found at: https://www.ttc.ca/riding-the-ttc/Updates/TTC-service-adjustments

The TTC is committed to keeping customers informed about work and events that impact service, as well as alternate route options. For the most up-to-date information, follow @TTCNotices on X or sign up for eAlerts.